Fracture table



Nov. 10, 1953 A. J. NEUFELD FRACTURE TABLE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 11, 1951 ALGA/Z0 rZ .NL/F'EL 0,

INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY- A. J. NEUF'ELD FRACTURE TABLE Nov. 10, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 11, 1951 V ALONZO JVEUFELD,

INVENTOR.

Ratentecl Nov. 10, 1953 FRACTURE TABLE Alonzo J. Neufeld, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to Alumni Research Foundation of The College of Medical Evangelists, Loma Linda, Calif., a corporation of California Application January 11, 1951, Serial No. 205,494

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to an orthopedic or surgical table for facilitating the examination of a patient, the setting of fractures, application of bandages, casts and the like.

It is an object of this invention to provide improved apparatus of this character.

Another object of this invention is the provision of such apparatus leaving the body largely exposed whereby the application and removal of bandages, casts and the like is greatly simplified.

Another object is the provision of such apparatus having a pelvic support and a back support, alternatively usable as conditions require.

Another object is the provision of such apparatus wherein the perineal support serves as a common means for mounting the arm and leg supporting members.

Another object is the provision of such apparatus incorporating the supporting framework, the frame and the apparatus being of knockdown construction enabling their accommodation in a small space when not in use or for ready portability.

Another object is the provision of such a frame having foldable legs arranged in a novel manner.

This invention possesses many other advantages and has other objects which may be made more easily apparent from a consideration of one embodiment of the invention. For this purpose there is shown a form in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification. This form will now be described in detail, illustrating the general principles of the invention; but it is to be understood that this detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of apparatus incorporating the invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevation partly in section, showing a portion of the left-hand end. of the supporting frame of the apparatus of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevation partly in section, showing a portion of the right-hand end of the supporting frame of the apparatus of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an elevation partly in section showing an alternate operating position of certain parts of Fig. 4;

Figs. 6 and 7 are cross sections taken substantially as indicated by the correspondingly numbered lines on Fig. 3 and on a further enlarged scale;

Fig. 8 is a cross section, taken substantially as indicated by line 8-8 of Fig. 4 and on a further enlarged scale;

Fig. 9 is a cross section, taken substantially as indicated by line S9 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 10 is a detail section taken substantially as indicated by line lfl-!EI of Fig. 1, showing an alternate operating position of the parts;

Fig. 11 is an exploded view showing the alternatively usable pelvic and back supports of the apparatus;

Fig, 12 is a side elevation, similar to Fig. 1 but on a reduced scale and showing the apparatus in use; and

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary part sectional and part elevational view of a modified arrangement of parts of the apparatus compared to the arrangement shown in Fig. 12.

Referring to the drawings, particularly Figs. 1, 2, and 12, the apparatus is shown as comprising a supporting frame F having a generally horizontal member 10 with three supporting legs ll, l2 and I3, pivotally mounted thereon so as to be foldable, as indicated in Fig. l. The perineal post [5 extends upwardly from one end of the member l0 and carries the cantilever leg supporting members 16 and H as well as the similarly arranged arm supports it and I9. Adjacent the opposite end of the frame member [0 a shoulder and head supporting structure generally indicated by the numeral 2c is shown, a back support 2| extending therefrom to the perineal post l5. As clearly shown in Fig. 12, the patient is supported in a prone position with his feet respectively supported by the members It and Il, his arms supported by grasping the members I8 and I9 respectively, his head and shoulders on the structure 20, and his back on the support 2|. Suitable adjustments are provided to accommodate persons of different proportions and it will be apparent that only the minimum areas of the body are covered so as to interfere as little as possible with the examination, application of casts, etc.

Referring in detail to the structure, the hori-- zontal frame member I0 is shown as tubular and has a pair of depending lugs 25 joined by an arcuate transverse wall 26 adjacent the head end with a transverse pin 2? on which is pivotally mounted the tubular support leg H for which purpose it is provided with a pair of lugs 28 at its upper end which engage the pin 21. A tubular sleeve 29. is slidable exteriorly of the leg adjacent its upper end and is urged upwardly by a tension spring. 30. The upper end of sleeve 29 has an enlarged portion or collar 31 urged into engageinent with the wall 26 by the spring 30 (see Fig. 3) for maintaining the leg I I in extended or supporting position. When it is desired to fold the leg to retracted position as indicated by the broken lines in Fig. 1, the sleeve 29 is urged downwardly to disengage the wall 26, freeing the leg H for movement about the pin 21.

The opposite end of the member 10 is provided with two pairs of lugs 33 and 34 (see Figs. 4 and 8) similarly arranged to mount legs l2 and [3 respectively, each of which is provided with a slidable locking sleeve 35.

As clearly shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6, the head and shoulder supporting structure 20 comprises a short tubular post 38 forming a socket, supported on the member W by the aid of a short tubular section or sleeve 39 slidable on the exterior of the member [0. A guide 40 within the member i is secured to sleeve 39 as by screws M extending through a guide slot 10A in the member [0, the screws ii cooperating with the slot IDA to maintain the post 38 upright. A nut 42 is secured on the member ll) by a screw 43 and engages a threaded rod 45 extending longitudinally in the member ID and rotatably supported therein by a head 46 at the outer end of the member iii and a member 41 adjacent the opposite end (see Fig. 4). A hand crank 48 is secured to the outer end of the rod 55 for imparting rotation thereto, such rotation serving to adjust the position of the post 38 and attached parts longitudinally of the member ID.

As shown in Fig. 3, the shoulder support cornprises a transversely extending bowed plate as carrying a detachable cylindrical plug which telescopes within the upper end of the tubular post 33 which latter is reinforced by a tubular liner Ela. The plate 50 rests on the end wall 58a of the plug and is detachably connected with the plug by means of a screw threaded projection 56b fixed on the wall 50a and engaged in a screw threaded opening 580 in the center of the plate. Suitable lugs at 5!!) provided on the upper end of the post engage in openings Bic in the plate 56] to hold the plate in the desired position.

An arm 53 is mounted on the post 38 for angular and axial adjustment thereon by the aid of a collar 54 (see Fig. 3). As shown in Fig. 6 the arm 53 is of flat sided cross section and has the head rest 55 slidably mounted thereon by means of a short vertical arm 56 having an inverted U- shaped foot 56a slidably engaging the arm 53 and secured in adjusted position therealong by a clamp screw 5?. Slidable within the arm 53 is a short plunger 58 having a cylindrical portion 58a adapted to engage the post 38 through an opening 54a in the collar 54. A rod 60 engaging the plunger 53 extends longitudinally of the arm 53 and through a head 6| at the free end thereof. The rod 60 threadedly engages the head 6| so that appropriate rotation of the rod 68 by the hand grip 52 serves optionally to cause the plunger extension 58a to clamp the arm in adjusted position on the post 38 or to free it for movement as desired.

The perineal post it comprises a tubular socket 64 fixed on the member it adjacent the end thereof remote from the head or shoulder support structure 20, upon which the leg support members it and H are mounted. Each of these members comprises a tubular portion 85 having a collar 68 rotatably engaging the socket 64 and adapted to be secured in angularly adjusted position as by conventional clamp arrangement 61'. An extension 68 slidably telescopes within the member 4 65 being secured in longitudinally adjusted position as by clamp 69. The outer end of member 68 has a conventional foot engaging means 18 mounted thereon,

A tubular member 1| telescopes within the socket 64 being supported as well as angularly restrained therein by a pin or projection I la engaging one of the notches 64a in the upper end of the socket member 64, and serves to mount the arm supporting members l8 and 19. For this purpose each of these members has a hub or collar 12 engaging the member H for axial and angular movement thereon, being secured in adjusted position by a conventional clamp 13.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that not only the arm supports l8 and 19 but the leg supports l6 and I! as well are supported solely by the post structure l5, extending therefrom as cantilevers.

A pelvic support 15 is also mounted on the post or socket 64 (see Figs. 4, 5, 9 and 11). This pelvic support comprises a horizontally disposed plate 16 having a depending semicircular hub 11 adapted to embrace the exterior of the socket 64 and to be supported on the upper end thereof as by a pair of diametrically disposed pins 18 which engage suitably placed pairs of the apertures 64a in the upper end of the socket 64 as will appear from Figs. 9 and 11. It is to be understood that the post II will be disposed so that its pin Ha will be so located as not to interfere with the pins 18. Two pairs of apertures 64a are provided when the support 15 is disposed with the pin 18 engaging one pair of these apertures or notches Me, the plate 16 is disposed in inoperative position where it will not support the patient. This position is shown by the full lines in Fig. 2 as well as in Fig. 11. When the pins 18 are disposed in the other pair of notches 613a, the plate 16 will be disposed in an operative body engaging position substantially at right angles with the inoperative position, as indicated by the broken lines in Fig. 2.

The back supporting member 2| comprises a resilient strip adapted to extend between the head and shoulder supporting structure 20 and the perineal post [5 and is adapted for use when the pelvic support is not desired. For this purpose the strip 80 is detachably supported by the aid of a socket arrangement at each of its ends. Thus, the pelvic support I5 has an elongated upwardly opening socket 8| adapted to receive end portion Biia of the strip 80, while the other end of the strip 83 has a similar socket 82 adapted to engage an intermediate portion of the shoulder support member 50. It will be obvious that it is immaterial Whether either socket is formed on the resilient strip or on the cooperating support, although it is preferably carried by the strip as it serves as a convenient grip in removing the strip from an unhardened plaster cast.

In applying plaster casts about the body of a patient, for example with the apparatus arranged as shown in Figs. 1 and 12, the back supporting strip A is covered by the plaster and in many instances the shoulder plate 5%) and plug 5! thereof are likewise embraced by the plaster. In consequence the strip 80 and the plate 58 must be removed before the plaster hardens. Thus, when completing the cast the patient is lifted and the strip 80 and plate 50 and plug 5| are likewise lifted from the apparatus. The plug 5| slips freely out of the post 38 and the end of the strip 80 likewise slips out of the socket Bl during this lifting of the patient. The plug 5| is now unscrewed from the plate 50 and the latter being thin and smooth is pulled sidewise by an end out of the cast. The strip 80 is grasped at the socket 82 thereon and pulled lengthwise out of the cast.

From an inspection of Figs. 1 and 12 it will be apparent that the spacing of posts 38 and I is such as to curve the resilient strip 80 upwardly. When the back support 2| is not desired, the strip 80 may be readily removed by moving the head and shoulder support 29 away from the perineal post [5 which will relax the tension on the strip 80, after which the pelvic support may be swung to operative position by raising it slightly to free pins 18 from one pair of notches 64a. After such adjustment the support 15 may be lowered so that the pins 78 engage the other pair of notches 64a.

When the pelvic plate 16 is in the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2 and in full lines in Figs. 5 and 9 for supporting the patient, should a plaster cast be applied in a manner in which the plate is covered by the plaster, it is apparent that when the patient is lifted after completing the cast, the plate and the hub 11 thereon will be lifted from the socket 64. The plate may readily be removed from the cast before the plaster sets by grasping the hub 11 and pulling the plate outwardly in the direction of its length.

As shown in Fig. 13, the leg supporting members l6 and I! may be removed from the tubular member or socket 64 and mounted on the post 38, the collars 6B fitting alike on the socket 64 and post 38. This arrangement is desired for shoulder spicas, the leg supporting members being extended laterally in opposite directions to cooperate with the arm supports 18 and [9 to facilitate the tying and holding of the arms in desired positions for applying the shoulder spicas.

I claim:

1. In a surgical table or the like: a head and shoulder supporting structure comprising a vertically disposed post, a shoulder engaging member mounted on said post, an arm supported on said post for angular and axial movement thereon; a head supporting member on said arm, and means operable from the free end of said arm for securing said arm in adjusted position on the post.

2. In a surgical table or the like: a 'head and shoulder supporting structure comprising a vertically disposed post, a shoulder engaging member mounted on said post, a tubular arm extending from said post, a sleeve supporting said arm and being angularly and axially movable on said post, a head support mounted on said arm and longitudinally adjustable therealong; means for holding said head support in adjusted position on said arm; and means securing said arm in adjusted position on said post, comprising a plunger movable in said arm into and out of engagement with said post; and a rod connected with said plunger and movable in said arm for actuating said plunger.

ALONZO J. NEUFELD.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,126,460 Hawley Jan. 26, 1915 1,216,434 Geiger Feb. 20, 1917 1,963,897 Greville June 19, 1934 2,232,952 Longfellow Feb. 25, 1941 2,477,562 Anderson Aug. 2, 1949 

